Henry Lord teachers and students soldier on after closure announcement

Despite a vote just the night before to close their school, the principal of the Henry Lord Middle School said it was business as usual Tuesday. But the school's closure was a hot topic among students.

Despite a vote just the night before to close their school, the principal of the Henry Lord Middle School said it was business as usual Tuesday.

“We’re progressing as normal and we’re right on track with our plans to move forward through the rest of the year,”

Principal Scott Johnson said. “I’m approaching it as it’s our job to continue to be here to support our students.”

The School Committee narrowly voted Monday night to close the struggling school at the end of the current school year.

The closure comes after warnings from officials with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that a lack of accelerated growth would likely result in the state designating the school as a Level 5 school, which would permit the state to take over the school. The state currently rates Henry Lord as a Level 4 school — or chronically underperforming.

As the day started with the school’s future fate sealed, Johnson said both students and staff came in ready to treat the day as any other. He said he did not notice either students or staff sulking because of the news.

“Everyone came in today ready to do their job,” Johnson said. “I’ve made it very clear with the staff about that, and they know clearly what the expectations are.”

As they left the school Tuesday afternoon, two students said the closure was a hot topic among their friends, with debates on the plan taking place in the morning before classes and later in the lunchroom.

“A lot of people are sad about it,” seventh-grader Deyona Jeffries said.

Jeffries’ classmate said the closing of the school will also bring an end to a long history her family has had with Henry Lord.

“I don’t like the idea,” Natasha Burgo said. “All of my brothers and sisters came to this school. It’s like a home to me. So I don’t want to see it shut down.”

Not all students agreed with Burgo’s opinion on the school’s future. As seventh-grader Tyler Rocha left the school with his friend Joshua Jackson he said the school is better off being closed.

“I think this school deserves to be closed,” Rocha said. “The kids here bad. They’re not really good kids.”

While he may be pleased with the decision, Rocha did voice some concern about how the closure could create problems for him during the next school year.

“I guess it will be kind of a disadvantage for us to have to go to schools way out of reach,” Rocha said.

Transportation was also on the mind of Melanie Motta as she waited outside the school to pick up her daughter. When informed district officials have indicated transportation will be made available to South End students reassigned to other schools, Motta had other questions come to mind.

Page 2 of 2 - “Isn’t it going to cost a lot more money? Why not just put that money into the school?” Motta asked.